Graeme Smith has been an epitome of what a Team Captain should be like over the years that he has captained SA. For me, he has always been Captain No 1 in this era.
He has led from the front many a times and this time he almost outdid himself in leading from the front. Smith hit 154 not out when chasing 283 successfully (they were 93/4 and 171/5 at one time) and beating England in England to win the test series! What a moment to take the bull by its horns! What a super-achievement!!! All this at the age of 27 years!!! He is sure to leave his imprint in the Cricketing Greats of all times!
Take a bow, Graeme Smith!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
India - Galle Test Victory
I think Team India played some excellent cricket in the second innings to win the Galle test match.
I think that although you need high class bowlers to win a test match (remember the opposite side has to be bowled out twice to win the match?) Sehwag rightly got the MoM award becuase his both innings (and more importantly his approach) is what made the difference between two teams. Ishant bowled superbly aided well by Zaheer and theduo set the victory up for India. I would have felt miserable had India not won the match after such a great start, but Bhajji and Kumble did well to undo the pedesterian bowling in the first test. In fact, the pitch and conditions suited the spinners and they did their job. What I loved was the way Ishant kept hitting the deck ball after ball.
However, I felt sad with the way the Lankan warrior Mahela actually threw his wicket away at the crucial juncture with an aerial shot straight to Dravid. Not to take anything away from Indian bowlers and fielders who did a fantastic job thoroughout the match.
One exception was Kartik though, and India should not continue with him in the third match. Although he is an excellent batsman to have in the team at that position, he was poor in his wicket keeping skills. When everyone knows that one missed catch can cost you a match, think of what happens when you drop two or three in a match! I think strong signal needs to go to Indian fielders and this is the right time.
I am looking forward to the third match -I am sure that Lankans will be back strongly - they might get a fit Fernando in the match as well.
Super Sehwag continues to dazzle and one statistic after his first inning was that this was his consecutive 11th hundred that he had crossed 150!!! Hats off! I think this is one player who India should persist with at all times, irrespective of his inconsistency at times. Another player who needs to be in the team according to me is Irfan Pathan The guy needs a relook at his career and do what he has always done best - bowl, bowl fast and swing the balls. He is a great asset with bat too and that confidence must be given back to him somehow by the Captain and the coach.
With the current team though, it is essential that the think-tank sorts out Medis and Murali threats and have a game plan for their deliveries. Otherwise, just hope that Sehwag is at it again!
Well played, India! Keep it up!
I think that although you need high class bowlers to win a test match (remember the opposite side has to be bowled out twice to win the match?) Sehwag rightly got the MoM award becuase his both innings (and more importantly his approach) is what made the difference between two teams. Ishant bowled superbly aided well by Zaheer and theduo set the victory up for India. I would have felt miserable had India not won the match after such a great start, but Bhajji and Kumble did well to undo the pedesterian bowling in the first test. In fact, the pitch and conditions suited the spinners and they did their job. What I loved was the way Ishant kept hitting the deck ball after ball.
However, I felt sad with the way the Lankan warrior Mahela actually threw his wicket away at the crucial juncture with an aerial shot straight to Dravid. Not to take anything away from Indian bowlers and fielders who did a fantastic job thoroughout the match.
One exception was Kartik though, and India should not continue with him in the third match. Although he is an excellent batsman to have in the team at that position, he was poor in his wicket keeping skills. When everyone knows that one missed catch can cost you a match, think of what happens when you drop two or three in a match! I think strong signal needs to go to Indian fielders and this is the right time.
I am looking forward to the third match -I am sure that Lankans will be back strongly - they might get a fit Fernando in the match as well.
Super Sehwag continues to dazzle and one statistic after his first inning was that this was his consecutive 11th hundred that he had crossed 150!!! Hats off! I think this is one player who India should persist with at all times, irrespective of his inconsistency at times. Another player who needs to be in the team according to me is Irfan Pathan The guy needs a relook at his career and do what he has always done best - bowl, bowl fast and swing the balls. He is a great asset with bat too and that confidence must be given back to him somehow by the Captain and the coach.
With the current team though, it is essential that the think-tank sorts out Medis and Murali threats and have a game plan for their deliveries. Otherwise, just hope that Sehwag is at it again!
Well played, India! Keep it up!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Mystery Man Mendis!!!
He came, he saw and he conquered!!!
Ajantha Mendis might become the man a lot of Indian olympians would like to thank. The emotional cricket followers of the country just might desert the sinking Indian cricket ship (while the Mendis-phobia lasts for the famed Indian line-up) and watch the Bejing Olympics instead! Wishful thinking? May be, but the Indians are playing the spin in such a way as if they have never encountered spin before.
Yes, I feel that while the Indian batsmen appear to have forgotten how to play spin, the credit does undoubtedly go to Mendis and the way he made all the great batsmen around him crumble, time and again. My verdict after watching him (not so closely) Ajantha Mendis is that he is good. May not be as good as Murali (who can be?), but he is here to stay and he is a real threat on SL pitches more than anyone else. He is cool and he is a killer. He has a clean action and nothing to fear. Call it the carrom ball or anything else, Mendis rocks!
As far as the 2nd test Day 1 goes, Sehwag rocked too! And how? This was anotherSehwag special and this went on to prove how Sehwag should always be inm the team, irrespective of his failures at times. Just like Sehwag, another player who should be in playign eleven for India is Irfan Pathan. Someone needs to get that lad back to where he started.
Well, what can one say about Dravid, Ganguly and Tendulkar? Two failures on a trot doesn't mean much in the long journey of cricket that they have played, and they are definitely going to hit back sooner if not later...but that does not take away the shine from the Mendis-Murali combo rocking the Indian boat led by Kumble.
For me, the real failure in test 1 was that of Indian bowling on the same track where Murali-Mendis played havoc. Kumble with all his experience and Bhajji with all his aggression (and nothing else, really - I continue to wonder why he is in the Indian team for so long at all) came out a complete zero!!! :-(
Let's wait and watch how the 2nd test goes!
Ajantha Mendis might become the man a lot of Indian olympians would like to thank. The emotional cricket followers of the country just might desert the sinking Indian cricket ship (while the Mendis-phobia lasts for the famed Indian line-up) and watch the Bejing Olympics instead! Wishful thinking? May be, but the Indians are playing the spin in such a way as if they have never encountered spin before.
Yes, I feel that while the Indian batsmen appear to have forgotten how to play spin, the credit does undoubtedly go to Mendis and the way he made all the great batsmen around him crumble, time and again. My verdict after watching him (not so closely) Ajantha Mendis is that he is good. May not be as good as Murali (who can be?), but he is here to stay and he is a real threat on SL pitches more than anyone else. He is cool and he is a killer. He has a clean action and nothing to fear. Call it the carrom ball or anything else, Mendis rocks!
As far as the 2nd test Day 1 goes, Sehwag rocked too! And how? This was anotherSehwag special and this went on to prove how Sehwag should always be inm the team, irrespective of his failures at times. Just like Sehwag, another player who should be in playign eleven for India is Irfan Pathan. Someone needs to get that lad back to where he started.
Well, what can one say about Dravid, Ganguly and Tendulkar? Two failures on a trot doesn't mean much in the long journey of cricket that they have played, and they are definitely going to hit back sooner if not later...but that does not take away the shine from the Mendis-Murali combo rocking the Indian boat led by Kumble.
For me, the real failure in test 1 was that of Indian bowling on the same track where Murali-Mendis played havoc. Kumble with all his experience and Bhajji with all his aggression (and nothing else, really - I continue to wonder why he is in the Indian team for so long at all) came out a complete zero!!! :-(
Let's wait and watch how the 2nd test goes!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Cricket: Turning a new leaf
Finally, I am glad that those who run cricket have shown some spunk in announcing the experimental implementation of refarrals. A batting team can now ask for 3 decisions to be reviewed by 3rd TV umpire if it disagrees with the on-field umpires.
It is such a joy and relief to stand vindicated.
Despite a promising start, here are a couple of things I want to happen as we go ahead:
1) Why only the batting side, even bowling side should be allowed for referrals in the matches
2) Why only 3 decisions, should be as many as required.
I am sure that going forward these improvements will be imlemented, and rightly so.
Seeing the brighter sides of international cricket in this post, here are 2 more:
1) I am glad that KP's stance is allowed by MCC.
2) Windies showed amazing spunk in fighting the Aussies and Chanderpaul has been superb!
:-)
It is such a joy and relief to stand vindicated.
Despite a promising start, here are a couple of things I want to happen as we go ahead:
1) Why only the batting side, even bowling side should be allowed for referrals in the matches
2) Why only 3 decisions, should be as many as required.
I am sure that going forward these improvements will be imlemented, and rightly so.
Seeing the brighter sides of international cricket in this post, here are 2 more:
1) I am glad that KP's stance is allowed by MCC.
2) Windies showed amazing spunk in fighting the Aussies and Chanderpaul has been superb!
:-)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Sports and Villians.
It has been a super sporting month so far!
Just concluded tri-series was interesting and keenly contested with a deserved Pakistan winning it, Eng and NZ are playing some amazing cricket and Lee inspired Aussie fightback has been terrific against the West Indies at home!
And I haven'e even talked about the just concluded French open and the ongoing Euro 2008 which has been simply superb so far although my favourites France were bamboozled by the rampaging Dutch 4-1!
This makes me wonder what Bollywood's Bad Boys would say about this overdose of sports.
Gabbar would probably put it : " Aankhe 2, aur match itne saare......Bahot na-insaafi hai"
Mogambo might still say" Mogambo, Khush hua"
And since I share my name with another Bollywood villian, I kinda agree with both! :-)
Lage Raho!
Just concluded tri-series was interesting and keenly contested with a deserved Pakistan winning it, Eng and NZ are playing some amazing cricket and Lee inspired Aussie fightback has been terrific against the West Indies at home!
And I haven'e even talked about the just concluded French open and the ongoing Euro 2008 which has been simply superb so far although my favourites France were bamboozled by the rampaging Dutch 4-1!
This makes me wonder what Bollywood's Bad Boys would say about this overdose of sports.
Gabbar would probably put it : " Aankhe 2, aur match itne saare......Bahot na-insaafi hai"
Mogambo might still say" Mogambo, Khush hua"
And since I share my name with another Bollywood villian, I kinda agree with both! :-)
Lage Raho!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
IPL!
Sorry for the inactivity on this blog for some months now, was totally kept busy on the professional front by the demanding client and the application deliveries !!!
Having said that, I haven't missed all the action and controversies in the thick of it of the ongoing IPL!!!
It has been superb show , to say the least, and thankfully hasn't remained showbiz but has had all fast track ingredients of cricket stamped all over it.
The Shauns, Shanes and the unknown Indian/international talent on show has surely changed the way cricket is played lover and given a great chance to those who always deserved it, but never got a chance due to non cricketing reasons.
I have been thrilled by many of the cricketers, not to mention the cheerleaders doing their bit!
Today being the final, it is a clash of the clinical Rajasthan Royals vs the Super Kings led by Dhoni. With Smith not playing, I'd think Chennai has some edge, but T20 has thrown the Deccan Chargers out against all possible odds showing that there is no logic based on reputations and past performances!
Three cheers to IPL and waiting to watch who gets the crown today!!!
Having said that, I haven't missed all the action and controversies in the thick of it of the ongoing IPL!!!
It has been superb show , to say the least, and thankfully hasn't remained showbiz but has had all fast track ingredients of cricket stamped all over it.
The Shauns, Shanes and the unknown Indian/international talent on show has surely changed the way cricket is played lover and given a great chance to those who always deserved it, but never got a chance due to non cricketing reasons.
I have been thrilled by many of the cricketers, not to mention the cheerleaders doing their bit!
Today being the final, it is a clash of the clinical Rajasthan Royals vs the Super Kings led by Dhoni. With Smith not playing, I'd think Chennai has some edge, but T20 has thrown the Deccan Chargers out against all possible odds showing that there is no logic based on reputations and past performances!
Three cheers to IPL and waiting to watch who gets the crown today!!!
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